Q

Q: What is the car used in Swordfish ... the one where Travolta and Jackman are running from the crazies with machine guns. (The convertible.) I would go watch it but this seems easier. - Damian/Alicea

A: According to the website www.varaces.com the car used in Swordfish is something called a TVR Tuscan. (I've never heard of it either). Visit the official TVR website for more information:

http://www.tvr-tuscan.co.uk/tvr.htm#

Q: Can you help? I need to know the place where the car race took place was in the film Grease. Do you know or remember? - Trudy

A: I did a quick Google search and here's the info I came up with:

"The climactic car race between the T-Birds and the Scorpions was conceived to take place on the high school track surrounding the football field, where Rose Bowl-sized "Gladiator" floats were to be parked. As the cars raced around the track, the image was to be a sendup of the chariot race in "Ben Hur". For budgetary reasons, Paramont's production head talked me into shooting the race in the LA River bed near downtown. All that is left of this concept is the knife-like wheels that bad guy Leo grinds into Danny's car." - Randal Kleiser, director

Q: Will ERTL ever release The Car, Ghostbuters Ecto 1 (first movie), Grease, Phantasm, Family Truckster, Animal House-Death Mobile? Will they ever come out 1:64 scale after the 1:18 scale?
Thanks Joe. - Jason

A: As far as I know, ERTL still plans on releasing all the cars you listed in 1:18 scale. I've even seen the Phantasm Barracuda in stores already. As for the second part of your question, so far ERTL has followed up most of their 1:18 scale releases with 1:64 scale releases, including: Gone in 60 Seconds Mustang Mach I, Smokey & the Bandit Trans-Am, Bullitt Mustang, Fast Times at Ridgemont High Camaro, The Munsters Koach, xXx GTO, and the General Lee from The Dukes of Hazzard. They've also released cars from The Fast & The Furious in both 1:64 scale and 1:18 scale (the 1:64 scale cars came first, however). There are no guarantees though. We can only cross our fingers and hope these 1:18 scale cars are also released in 1:64 scale. Keep an eye on this website for any updates. The ERTL website hasn't been updated in MONTHS.

Q: Great site. I love old classic cars in movies and tv. Love your humor. You are right on the top ten best and worst. I am surprised you did not mention the 1968 Dodge Charger r/t and the 1968 Mustang that ERTL did (from the film) BULLITT with the figures. I am not nit-picking. Great site. e-mail me if you have any die-casts for sale. Thanks - Jim

A: Thanks for the compliments Jim! First of all, let me straighten out your facts a bit. I believe it was Revell who did the cars with figures from the film Bullitt, but they were 1:25 scale. Corgi also did a 1:36 scale Mustang with a Steve McQueen figure. Please keep in mind that the focus of my website is 1:64 scale cars (such as Johnny Lightning, Hot Wheels and Matchbox). I do report on news regarding all scales of TV and movie cars, but my galleries and top ten lists focus on 1:64. ERTL did do a beautiful job on a 1:64 scale version of the Bullitt Mustang, but it didn't quite make it onto my top ten list.

Also, one of the most common questions I get is whether or not I'm selling anything on the site. The answer is no. The photos you see are of cars belonging to me and my friend Dennis. Other photos are submitted or "borrowed" (LOL). But nothing you see on this site is for sale. This site was created to help others like myself who are looking for information about die-cast TV and movie cars.

Q: Hello there, I am looking for the Dean Jeffries who designed and built the (vehicle) used in the sci-fi thriller Damnation Alley, a Twentieth Century-Fox film. I am actually building a robot onto the three star wheel system and I am looking about the gearbox and the direction system. But I am overall interested by that type of big machinery! So, if you are the right Jefferies, would you be kind enough to tell me where I can find the schematic of the Land Master?

If you're not, sorry to bothered you! Thanks... F. Tourigny

A: I sure got a kick out of this e-mail. I'm not quite sure how anyone could confuse me with the legendary Dean Jeffries. This site must've popped up in a search for "Dean Jeffries" as I do have a page dedicated to his work. For more information on Mr. Jeffries, visit:

I actually found information and photos from the film and vehicle you mentioned! Searching Google, I also found out (if the info is current) Mr. Jeffries still lives and works in Hollywood. You can write him at Dean Jeffries Automotive Styling, 3077 Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90068 or call him at (323) 851-5678 (it's in the Yellow Pages).